Following a week off, the Milwaukee Bucks kicked off the second half of the season with a big win against the visiting New York Knicks Thursday night.
Just days removed from winning his first All-Star Game MVP this past Sunday, Giannis Antetokounmpo put together another MVP caliber performance against the Knicks. The Greek Freak notched his fifth triple-double of the season to pave the way for Milwaukee, totaling 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in 29 minutes.
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Antetokounmpo and the four other starters finished with double-digit points in the contest, helping Milwaukee run up the scoreboard. With a 134-101 win, the Bucks were able to grab their 23rd victory of the year and even up the season series against the Knicks.
Winning by a whopping 33 points, one could not have hoped for a better start to the latter half of the season for Milwaukee after their struggles throughout the first portion. There were a handful of positives to take away from this game, and hopefully, the team can build something off this performance moving forward.
However, before the Bucks retake the court on Saturday night, here are three takeaways from their big win over the New York Knicks Thursday night.
First takeaway from win over Knicks — Milwaukee Bucks keep All-Star Julius Randle in check
Having a breakout year in New York, Julius Randle earned his first All-Star nod this season, joining Antetokounmpo among the Eastern Conference reserves last Sunday. Knowing that he would be the difference maker in this one, the Bucks did everything in their power to keep him in check from start to finish.
They were successful in doing so, as the big man had a minimal impact all night long. He scored just seven points in the contest, shooting an abysmal 3-of-12 from the floor, including 1-of-2 from deep. Randle also tallied five turnovers in the game thanks to some fantastic defense from the pestering Bucks.
For a player that typically averages around 23 points and 11 rebounds on a nightly basis, Milwaukee did a phenomenal job keeping him at bay offensively from the opening tip. Part of what helped the Bucks keep him contained was their defensive efforts in the paint and just how much they dominated in that area on both ends.